Saturday, April 6, 2013

Watershed Hero: Nathan Harrington, DC Teacher and Community Activist

In the spirit of Alima, the watershed hero in Watershed Adventures of a Water Bottle, I will highlight the heroic activities of one person who is making a difference to improve the health of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. One voice, activism and motivation can inspire us all to make a positive impact in our local and global world.

Shepherd Parkway is a neighborhood in the
Congress Heights community. This neighborhood is adjacent to the northern
section of 205 acres of National Park land in Washington DC that runs along
Interstate 295. The National Park Service acquired it in the 1920’s to protect
the Potomac River, the wetlands in its floodplain and two Civil War forts, Fort Carroll and Fort Greble that sit upon the ridge.

The Shepherd Parkway Community clean-up started in 2010. Since then, the Shepherd Parkway Committee, part of
the Congress Heights Community Association, has held 15 clean-ups. We will
have 6 more this year. Volunteers are removing trash and invasive species, in particular
English Ivy that is strangling the 100-year old tree canopy. Since 2010, we have focused our efforts on 30 acres in the northern section of the National Park,
between St. Elizabeth’s hospital and Malcolm X Avenue. Our goal is to finish
this section by the end of 2013, then clean-up south of Malcolm X Avenue to South
Capitol Street. The ultimate goal is to remove trash and invasive plants like
English Ivy and Kudzu from all 205 acres and build a 3-mile hiking trail from
LeBaum Street to Oxon Cove and Oxon Run Parks in Maryland.

2.How have you helped your community?

I love that DC has large
tracts of parkland; a lot of which is east of the Anacostia River. When hiking
and exploring DC’s parks, I noticed the huge discrepancy between the
recreational opportunities, such as trails, and the management of the parks west
of the Anacostia versus east of the river.
A majority of these parks have been covered in trash for years, creating
a barrier for residents to recreate in their local green spaces.

After moving into the neighborhood, I began cleaning-up the trash on my own. I also attended community meetings to learn what bothered residents about their parkland. The resounding voices stated trash.
Therefore, I was asked to co-chair the Shepherd Parkway Committee to lead the
effort to clean-up the National Park land in the Congress Heights community.

Hundreds of volunteers from DC, the US and Canada have removed 80% of
the garbage in between Malcolm X Avenue and St. Elizabeth Hospital, in addition to all of the
English Ivy. The Shepherd Parkway committee has partnered with organizations, such as the Luther Place Memorial Church’s Steinbruck Center on Urban Studies, the DC chapter of the Sierra Club, Washington Parks and People and Potomac Appalachian Trail Club. While many young and old from around DC
have volunteered, my goal is to engage more residents from the Congress
Heights community.

3.What inspired you to start the project?

I was inspired to start this
project by the work that Washington Parks and People has done to restore two
major parks, Meridian Hill/Malcolm X Park and Watts Branch/Marvin Gaye Park.
Both parks were grossly neglected and riddled with crime. Now they are central
to the life and recreation of both communities.

While
studying to become a licensed DC tour guide, I became inspired by the history
and beauty of the architecture and natural landscapes in Washington. I want to help bring back that natural beauty to the parks east of the Anacostia
River.

4.Who inspired you to be a watershed hero?

I have been inspired by some of my neighbors who have removed trash from parkland
across from or adjacent to their homes. In addition, I am deeply inspired
by Phillip Pannell, a longtime community leader in DC’s Ward 8. Pannel has been
President of the Congress Heights Community Association for many years. He has
championed issues such as environmental justice, gay rights and school
improvement in Anacostia. Phillip is a shining example that one voice can make
a difference. He inspires me to be another voice making a difference in
Shepherd Parkway.Nathan's voice, activism and motivation make him a watershed hero.

About Me

Jennifer Chambers is an author, middle school Science teacher, environmental educator, former small business owner, mom and outdoor adventurer.
Jennifer teachers middle school Science and is an outdoor/environmental educator at The Siena School; a private school whose mission is to educate college-bound students with mild to moderate learning differences.
In 2013, Jennifer published a children’s book, Watershed Adventures of a Water Bottle. In 2014, she published a hiking guide book, Best Hikes with Kids: Washington DC, The Beltway and Beyond.
From 2004 to 2016, Jennifer was CEO of Hiking Along, LLC; a business dedicated to engaging children in exploration of the natural world and to encourage them to appreciate and learn about the environment and how humans impact it while hiking on scenic trails around the DC region.
Jennifer is the Chair Emeritus of the Board of Directors for the American Hiking Society and was the Maryland State Advocate for Leave No Trace.
She lives in Silver Spring with her husband and two children who are an active outdoor family.